Clip for tentering-machines.



H. NOLIN.

CUP-FOR TENTERING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-20, 1912.

Patented June 22, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' 1 IIVV'EAITOR lT/VESSES 3 $7M My By THE NORRIS PETERS C0., PHOTC-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

ATTORNEY H. NOLIN. CLIP FOR TENTERING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-20, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEETZ.

Patented June 22,

Hmmmh A M A- w lT/VESSES INVENTOR W ATTORNEY THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHQTO-LITHOH WASHINGTON, D. C,

TTNTE @TATF HENRY NOLIN, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

CLIP FOR TENTERING-MACHINES.

iiaaea.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1915.

Application filed September 20, 1912. Serial No. 721,407.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY NOLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clips for Tentering-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

My invention relates to machines for stretching cloth, known in the art as tentering machines, and particularly to the clips for gripping the edge of the cloth in such machines. These clips are commonly connected together to form two cooperative endless chains on opposite sides of the machine, and these chains are continuously run over suitable pulleys or other guides and the dis tance between the two becomes progressively wider, thereby stretching the cloth. The clips are automatically opened and grip the cloth at the receiving end of the machine and are again automatically opened and release the cloth at the opposite end of the machine. The closing of the jaws upon the cloth in these clips is usually controlled by a member known as the controller carried by the movable jaw and arranged to rest upon the cloth to hold the jaw open until the edge of the cloth is pulled from under the controller, which then falls down in a slot provided for the purpose and permits the jaw to close. The jaws, therefore, grip the cloth as soon as the end of the controller rides off the edge of the cloth, but the width of the grip which the controller thus permits the jaws to take upon the cloth is, in practice, not suitable for all kinds of cloth, and the clips do not therefore work equally well with different cloths. For example, a clip adapted for heavy cloth will not work properly when used with light cloth, and it is frequently necessary to replace the controllers by longer ones under such conditions. Furthermore, the grip taken by the successive clips on a chain will oftentimes not be uniform, due to wear, or improper stamping of the controller. The pivoted jaw also wears oif relatively very rapidly in use, resulting in variations in the width and tenacity of the grip.

An object of my invention is to obviate these difliculties and to provide a clip which will work to advantage under all conditions and upon all kinds of cloth.

Other objects are simplicity, facility and reliability of operation, and durability of construction. Still other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description.

My invention comprehends a clip in which the parts may be adjusted to vary the width of the grip which the controller permits the jaws to take, and which may be regulated in accordance with the particular working conditions. More specifically the controller is adjustable to bring its point of engagement with the cloth nearer to or farther from the jaws, thereby regulating the relative time at which the controller rides off the edge of the cloth as the edge of the cloth approaches the jaws.

My invention also comprehends a clip which may be adjusted to vary the distance between the support for the movable jaw and the stationary jaw, in order to compensate for wear or improper shape of either aw.

My invention also comprehends various other features and details of construction and arrangements and combinations of parts, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

I shall now describe the embodiments of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and shall thereafter point out my invention in claims.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a clip embodying my invention, taken on line 11 of Fig. 2, looking up. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, partially in sections. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same, partially in section, as viewed from the right of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, of a modified embodiment of my invention. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the same, partially in section and with parts broken away. Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, of another embodiment of my invention. Fig 7 is a rear elevation of the same with parts broken away.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the lower jaw 1 is stationary and is an integral part of the base portion 2 of the frame of the clip which is provided with the usual controller slot 3 back of the lower jaw 1. The upper jaw 4 is pivoted to the two overhanging arms 5 of an overhanging upper portion, by means of pivot studs 7, one for each end of the jaw. These pivot studs are just long enough to extend through the respective pivot arms 6 of the jaw and the overhanging arm 5, as shown in Fig. 2, and they have a smooth portion which forms thepivoted bearing for the pivot arm 6 and a screw threaded portion which screws into the "respective overhanging arm 5. This construction of pivot stud permits the removal of the stud for repairor replacement of any parts in any position of the clips'withoutinterference with the ad- I wardly and is balanced so that it normally falls down by gravity in closed engagement with itscompleme'ntaryjaw 1, in the position shown in the drawings, and for opening the jaw it is provided with an upwardly projecting opening lever 8 in the upper end of which is pivoted an antifriction roller 9 which is engaged by the opening cams in the usual way, or the cams may engage the bearing head 10 on the outer side of the jaw in opening the aw. To control the closing ofthis upperjaw4 a controller 11 is provided which ispivoted to the usual bifur cated rearwardly extending controller arm 12 of the=pivoted jaw 4. This controller 11 is pivotally supported at its upper end to a swinging bifurcated fulcrum support or guide lB, while" its lower end is free and is adapted to project into the slot 3 in the base 2 in the absence of a sheet of cloth 14, and the parts are so designed that the controller holds'the upper jaw 4 open while the controller rests upon the cloth 14, and as soon asthe end of the controller rides over the edge of the cloth it falls into the slot 3, and the upper jaw 4 is free to fall down by gravity and grip theedge of the cloth. It is apparent therefore, that the width of the grip'taken by the jaws depends upon the time when the controller rides over the edge of the cloth and falls down into the slot 3 relativefto the movement of the edge of cloth towardthe jaws. In order that the width of this gripmay be varied, I make the controller 11 adjustable so as to vary the angle of inclination of the controller with the cloth, thereby varying the distance back of the movable jaw 4 of the point of engagement of the controller with the cloth. To effect this in this embodiment I provide means for raising and lowering the upper or fulcrum end of the controller. The bifurcated fulcrum support 18 is pivoted upon the inner end of a transversely extending supporting rod 14, the outer end of which is secured by two nuts 15 in an arcuate guide slot 16 in a supporting arm 17, shown as integral with one of the overhanging arms 5. To adjust the fulcrum support 13 it is only necessary to loosen one of the nuts 15 and move the supporting arm 14 up or down in the slot 16 the desired distance. It is manifest that as the upper end of the controller 11 is thus raised, the lower or engaging end is retracted from the jaw 4 and that as the adjustable parts are moved down in'the slot 16, the engaging end of the controller 11 will be adjusted toward the movable jaw 4, with the result that the width of the margin gripped by the jaws is correspondingly regulated. Thus, y a simple manipulation the clip may be set'for advantageoi'ls use upon heavy fabrics or upon thin delicate fabrics, and any imperfections in the length of the controller may be compensated for and all of the clips in a cham beset to take a uniform grip, thereby eliminating injury to the cloth, as by tearing or creasing it. As the upper swinging jaw 4 wears off, its usefulness becomes gradually impaired until it will no longer tenaciously hold the cloth and it is necessary to replace the upper jaw with a new one, or as is frequently done, to discard the whole clip, since the cost of the upper jaw is a considerable-part of the entire cost of the clip. To enable the operator to continue the use of t'he"clip 'as the upper jaw wears off, means are provided for adjusting the upper jaw toward its'complementary jaw to compensate forthis wear. The overhanging arms 5'are'c'onnected together at their bottom ends by the bottom connecting strip 18 which is pivoted to upwardly projecting lugs 19 on the base portion 2 by pivoted studs 20 similar to the pivoted stud 7 already described. It is therefore apparent, that as the upper overhanging portion is adjusted upon its pivotal axis the upper jaw will be moved toward and away from its complementary jaw. To look this overhanging portion in adjusted position two screws 21 and 22 are provided, the former of which is screwed down through the connecting strip 18 against the base 2 to raisethe rear end and lower the front end of the overhanging portion, while the screw extends up from the base 2' and passes freely through a hole in the connecting strip 18, and is provided with a nut on its upper end, which is screwed up or down to coeperate with the screw 21 in effecting the desired adjustment und to lock the overhanging member in adjusted position.

The embodiment of my invention shown in-Figs. 4 and 5 differs from the embodiments previously described in the means for adjusting the controller. The upper end of the controller 11, is, in this instance, bifurcated and straddles a guide pin 23 on the upper end of a fulcrum arm 2a. This fulcrum arm 24: is secured at its lower end to a transversely extending adjusting screw 25 which screws through an opening provided therefor in one of the overhanging arms, and is locked in adjusted position by the lock nut 26. As the adjusting screw 25 is turned in its bearing the fulcrum arm 2% and the controller 11 are correspondingly adjusted, and it is apparent that as the arm 24 is rotated to the left, as shown in Fig. 4., the controller 11 will be adjusted clockwise upon its pivot and the width of the grip which the jaws are permitted to take upon the cloth is thereby lessened, while adjustment of the arm 24- to the right serves to widen the grip of the jaws upon the cloth.

In the adjusting means shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the upper end of the controller 11 is pivoted to one end of an adjustable fulcrum pin 27. This fulcrum pin 27 is adjusted in a slotted pivoted guide member 28, pivoted at its lower end on a transverse pin 29 and extending down in a slot in the base, as indicated, to hold it against lateral movement. An adjusting screw 30 extends down through the upper end of the guide member 28 and through the guide slot in this memher and through a screw opening provided for this purpose in the fulcrum pin 27. This fulcrum pin 27 is prevented from rotating with the adjustable screw 30 by reason of its engagement with the side of the slot, and it is apparent, therefore, that as the adjusting screw 30 is turned, the fulcrum pin 27 will be adjusted up and down the guide slot. and the upper end of the controller 11 will be thereupon raised and lowered and the controller correspondingly ad justed to regulate the width of the grip taken by the jaws. A nut 31 locks the adjustable screw 30 against longitudinal movement.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive, the overhanging portion is not made adjustable to compensate for the wear of the upper jaw, and the releasing lever of the upper jaw is not provided, and the opening cam operates to open the jaws by engagement with the bearing head 10.

It is obvious that various other modilications may be made in the constructions shown and above particularly described within the principle andscope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a clip for tentering machines, a pair of jaws operative to grip a sheet of cloth, one of the jaws being movable, a controller pivoted to the movable jaw and adapted to engage the cloth with its free end and operative to hold the movable jaw open while in engagement with the cloth and to permit the jaw to close when the cloth is disengaged from the controller, and an adjustable fulcrum pivotally engaging the other end of the controller beyond its pivotal connection to the movable jaw and adjustable to vary the relative distance between the movable jaw and the free end of the controller.

2. In a clip for tentering machines, a pair of jaws operative to grip a sheet of cloth, one jaw being pivoted and movable to and from its complementary aw and having a tendency to move to closed position, a rearwardly extending controller arm carried by the movable jaw, a controller pivoted to the controller arm and adapted to engage the clothwith its free end and operative to hold the movable jaw open while in engagement with the clutch and to permit the jaw to close when the clutch is disengaged from the controller, and an adjustable fulcrum pivotally engaging the other end of the controller beyond its pivotal connection to the controller arm and adjustable to vary the relative distance between the movable jaw and the free end of the controller.

3. In a clip for tentering machines, a stationary lower jaw and a pivoted upper jaw cooperative therewith to grip a sheet of cloth, a controller pivoted to the upper jaw and arranged to engage the cloth behind the jaws with its lower end and to hold the jaw open while the controller engages the cloth and to permit the jaw to close when the cloth is withdrawn from underneath the controller, and an adjustable fulcrum for the controller above its pivotal connection with the upper jaw, whereby the width of the grip upon the cloth permitted by the controller may be regulated.

l. In a clip for tentering machines, a frame provided with a lower jaw and an overhanging portion, the upper jaw being pivoted to the overhanging portion and provided with a rearwardly extending arm, a controller pivoted to the rearwardly extending arm and arranged to rest upon the cloth and hold the upper jaw open and to drop down and permit the upper jaw to close when the cloth is withdrawn from underneath the controller, and an adjustable fulcrum for the controller above its pivotal connection, whereby the width of the grip upon the cloth permitted by the controller may be regulated.

5. In a clip for tentering machines, a stationary lower jaw and a pivoted upper jaw cooperative therewith to grip a sheet of cloth, a controller pivoted to the upper jaw and arranged to engage the cloth behind the jaws with its lower end and to hold the jaw open while the controller engages the cloth and to permit the jaw to close when the cloth is withdrawn from underneath the controller, a fulcrum for the upper end of:the controller, and means for raising and lowering the fulcrum to adjust the lower end of the controller-farther from and closer to the upper jaw, thereby regulating the widthof the :grip which the jaws are permitted to take.

6. In a clip for tenteringmachines,a'base portion, alower jav carried thereby, an overhanging upper portion extending up from the base and pivotally connected thereto, an upper jaw carried by the overhanging upper portion, and means for adjusting'the overhanging'portion upon its pivotal axis to move the upperjaw to and from its complementary aw.

7. In a clip for tentering machines, a base portion including a stationary jaw, an overhanging upper portion pivotally connected to the base portion, a movable upper jaw pivotally carried by the overhanging upper portion and cooperative with the lower jaw, and means for adjusting the overhanging upper portion upon its pivotal axis to move the pivot of the upperjawtoward and-away from the lower jaw and for locking the overhanging upperzportionin adjusted positions.

'8. In a oli )-for=tentering machines, a base portion including a stationary lower jaw, an

overhanging upper portion pivotally coni nected-tothe base portion, a movable upper jaw carried by the overhanging upper portion and cooperative with the lower jaw to grip a sheet of cloth, means for adjusting the overhanging upper portion upon its pivot to move the support for the upper jaw toward and away from the lower jaw, a controller arranged under the control of the cloth to control the closing of the upper jaw, and means for adjusting the controller to regulate itsr-elative point of engagement with the cloth, thereby regulating the width of the .gripifrom the edge of the cloth which the'jaws are permitted to take.

Intestimony whereof Ihave aflixed my signature in presence of-two witnesses.

HENRY NOLIN. Witnesses:

EPHRAIM CHABoT, PAUL VIENS.

Copies of thisgpatentamayebe obtained for .five:cents each by-addressing the Commissioner .of Patents. W'ashington, 1).,0." 

